“ 118 NIGHTHAWK. 
bristles, which doubtless act like the wings to a fish-net, 
steering unfortunate insects down the bird’s cavernous 
throat. 
The Nighthawk, or Bull-bat, as he is called in the 
South, is familiar to most persons who have the gift of 
seeing birds, but—in the northeastern 
sinter ne States, at least—he is usually confused 
virginianus. with the Whip-poor-will, and little is 
Plate XXVII- known of his real character. 
The Nighthawk is a bird of the sky. He passes the 
day perched motionless on a limb in wooded regions, on 
the ground in treeless regions, or even on a house top, 
when, as sometimes happens, he makes his home in a city, 
Probably he will not change his perch during the day, 
but as night approaches and his day begins, he will 
spread his long wings and fly away heavenward to 
course far above the earth in his search for insect 
food. 
The Nighthawk, unlike most members of its family, 
has limited vocal powers, its only note being a loud, nasal _ 
peent uttered as it flies. But it has musical talents in 
another direction. Sometimes in May or June, if you 
happen to be where Nighthawks are found—for they are 
rather local in distribution when nesting—you may hear 
a strange booming, rushing sound; you will vainly seek 
its cause until you chance to see a Nighthawk with set 
wings diving earthward from the sky. It is a reckless 
performance, and you may suppose the bird’s object is 
suicidal, but, when within a few yards of the earth, it 
will turn suddenly upward. At this moment you will 
hear the loud, humming sound, dou*tless made by the 
air passing through the bird’s stiffened wing-quills. 
Nighthawks, being insect-catchers, are of course 
highly migratory. They come to us early in May, and 
return to their winter quarters in South America in Oc- 
